Practical Teaching Tips with Richard James Rogers

As we bid farewell to the hustle and bustle of the academic year, we find ourselves at the threshold of a much-needed break: the glorious summer vacation. While some might envision teachers lounging on sandy beaches, sipping fruity drinks, and enjoying endless relaxation, the reality is that our time off is much more precious than that. As a current teacher myself, I understand the importance of m...

Be careful about how you behave at staff gatherings and parties. It can be really tempting to let your hair down, especially at the start or end of an academic year, but you must remember that your colleagues and managers are secretly watching you (and judging you) when you’re chucking down those pints, shots and bottles of whichever beverage it is that you like. Know your limitations and err on t...

In today's episode I discuss two very popular topics that are getting a lot of press at the moment: Instagram Threads and children who identify as 'furries' (animals). It's important for teachers to know how Threads could potentially be used to support teaching and learning, as it could (potentially) become a more child-friendly, tamer and 'safer' social media application t...

In today's episode I describe the best techniques I have used to engage students who do not have English as their first language. Gleaned from over 15 years of teaching ELD students subjects as diverse as Maths, Science, English and German, these tips are actionable and impactful. | Practical Teaching Tips by award-winning author, Richard James Rogers. Check out my award-winning book for teach...

Mr Huggins, a History teacher with over 30 years of experience, was asked by the Head of Science at Retford Oaks Academy in the UK to cover a lesson on puberty. What happened next was a nightmarish ordeal that would involve him being investigated by the local authority safeguarding body and the DBS. Listen carefully to this episode if you want to learn some important lessons from Mr Huggins' s...

As a teacher, it’s important to have a solid understanding of the principles that underpin effective instruction. One set of principles that has gained widespread recognition is the set proposed by Barak Rosenshine, a former professor of educational psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In this podcast episode I describe ten ways we can apply Rosenshine’s principles to our...

Our lessons need to be clear in order for students to understand the subject content they are expected to learn. This is particularly important for older students who are preparing for exams, and who are therefore expected to memorize, understand and apply vast amounts of information. In today's episode I describe eight ways in which we, as teachers, can increase the clarity of the content we...

Teacher workload is a significant issue in the education industry. The workload of teachers can be overwhelming, leading to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and ultimately, lower student outcomes. With a growing emphasis on outcome-driven education, teachers are under more pressure than ever to perform at their best. Oftentimes, however, we are creating work for ourselves through inefficiency - e.g....

Being an online teacher can be both rewarding and challenging. While it offers the flexibility of working from home and a broader reach to students worldwide, it also comes with its own set of stress factors. In 2023, as the world continues to digitize, the number of online teachers will likely increase, and so will the pressure to excel. In this podcast episode, we will look at some stress manage...

Private tutoring is on the rise globally, with a particular surge in Hong Kong. According to a report by Statista, the private tutoring market in Hong Kong was estimated to be worth HK$ 25 billion (US$ 3.2 billion) in 2021. The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum is particularly popular in Hong Kong, and many teachers are switching to private tutoring. In this podcast episode, we will expl...

The short answer to this question is that there are only two reasons why a teacher should ever touch a student: if there's an educational purpose behind it, or if there's a health and safety issue that can only be solved through touching or moving the student. However, despite this, we are seeing an increasing number of videos on social media of, almost exclusively, female teachers hugging and cud...

Flipped Learning was first conceived as a pedagogical technique in 2007 by Jonathan Bergman and Aaron Sams who set out to answer a big question: What is the best way to use face-to-face class time? The answer they came up with, in essence, was that students should be involved in some well-designed discovery tasks at home/outside the lesson prior to deeper exploration (in which the content they’ve...

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘diversity’? Most people will come up with a variety of answers, which may include race, gender, economic background or even neurodiversity. As educators, we must first be able to recognize diversity when we see it (which isn’t always obvious), and then work to both embrace it and manage the challenges posed by it. Classrooms are be...

ChatGPT has hit educators globally with thunderclap surprise and is causing a lot of panic – and for good reason. In terms of updating Academic Integrity policies, schools will now have to go right back to the drawing board and devise intelligent solutions to a wide array of complex challenges that #ChatGPT will pose. Another key consideration for all educational institutions will be how to figure...

As a teacher or a parent, you’ll likely have an interest in the subjects that children are learning in school, especially newer subjects like computer literacy, robotics, coding, or even game development. And while some parents and teachers might be worried that children already spend too much time on tablets, mobile phones or laptop computers as it is, the good news is that all of these subjects...

When order breaks down in the classroom, student learning is affected and teachers’ stress levels, burnout and anxiety rise – which sometimes leads to teachers making the decision to leave the profession ( McCarthy et. al., 2022 ). It is therefore in every teacher’s best interest to master the fundamental techniques of effective classroom management. Today, I'll be reading and commenting on a grea...

I have personally wasted so much of my free time both at school and at home marking student work. Many late nights; many lost weekends. All for nothing. You see, I now know that feedback only works if it is relevant, specific and somewhat emotional . How do we achieve this? – we must mark student work w ith the students . They have to be involved too. This episode is accompanied by a blog post: ht...

Taking a group of students on a journey from their first words and play right the way through to high school graduation is not a simple process. Following Schemes of Work, specifications, syllabuses and textbooks is simply not enough: long-term planning must take place. This planning must take into account the knowledge, skills and milestone exams the students will have to deal with along the way....

An unfortunate stigma has been attached to Teacher Talking Time (TTT) in recent years. A common misconception is that the more a teacher talks, the less effective their lesson will be. This is simply not true. Teachers MUST talk to their students during lessons - for many and varied reasons. In today's podcast episode I describe the best ways to make use of Teacher Talking Time within the classroo...

Teenagers and young people really can be the agents of change the world needs when it comes to sustainability. Fortune Magazine, for example, recently told the story of how global giant UPS was started by two teenagers and a bike back in 1907, and how the company went back to being eco-friendly with its e-bike delivery service in Hamburg back in 2012 (a service which has now expanded to many more...

Being overwhelmed with marking, particularly that caused by homework, is a common problem for new and experienced teachers alike. In this episode I examine the best ways to design, organise and return homework, as well as ways to avoid being bogged down and ‘up to your eyeballs’ in paperwork. This episode is accompanied by a blog post: https://richardjamesrogers.com/2022/10/08/homework-a-headache-...

Metacognition is often described simply as 'thinking about thinking'. However, it's actually more than just that, and involves the delivery of a wide array of effective strategies that have been proven time and again to boost attainment and progress. In today's episode I talk with Corinna Graham, Head of Science at Garden International School, Rayong, to find out how how she uses metacognitive str...

In today's episode, I describe the things that actually make a difference when it comes to effective and excellent teaching. No wishy-washy academic intangibles here - just the raw, blunt truth about the day-to-day stuff that WILL actually improve your students' attainment and progress. Check out my award-winning book for teachers - The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All High...

Tiredness on-the-job is inevitable as a teacher; no matter how well-prepared you are. In today's episode I describe some effective, practical things you can do in real-time when you feel tired at school, along with some strategies to prevent tiredness from happening in the first place.  Check out my award-winning book for teachers - The Quick Guide to Classroom Management: 45 Secrets That All...

From the duties she fulfilled during her National Service way back in the 1940s, to her most recent engagement on September 6th 2022 (in which she appointed the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, to her role), Queen Elizabeth’s life has been filled to the brim with duties, public service projects and a clear devotion to bettering the welfare of others. As a humble tribute to Queen Elizabeth II...